Dear parishioners and friends of St. Thomas the Apostle, the Archdiocese of Chicago has given approval for our parish to open for the sacraments as of Monday, June 15. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated on Saturday’s from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm in the church building.
Sacramental Guidelines for Reconciliation
These guidelines for celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation in a church reflect the updated guidance by government officials, healthcare professionals, and church authorities.
A “greeter,” or some agent of the parish, will meet the penitents outside the church or in the vestibule, hand out masks (if they have not brought their own), and require the use of hand sanitizer. The greeter will remind individuals that if they have a fever or are ill, they should not enter.
Masks should be worn for the entire time the penitents are in the church. Per IDPH and CDC guidelines, those with breathing difficulties can be exempted from this requirement, but those individuals must observe the strictest of social distancing from anyone not living in their domicile.